Work/family balance in municipal planning

Hi all -

I am wondering if anyone can speak to the work/life balance of a typical municipal planner? I have a child on the way and as I consider municipal planning positions that call for attending multiple evening meetings with several boards, councils and/or commissions, I wonder if a municipal setting is right for me? Don't get me wrong, I don't shun hard work or an occasionally hectic schedule, but family is something that I want to ensure does not get left in the wake of too much work at odd hours. Any thoughts about this are much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I think this one really depends on where you work and what your responsibilities are. Not every planner has an obligation to attend planning commission or council meetings. Also some jurisdictions have more meetings than others. So your best bet is to just do a bit of research on the position.

At least where I work, the planning director is really the only one obligated to show up to all those meetings. The rest of the staff works 8:30 to 5 unless a certain project requires otherwise (which is seldom).

How much those night meetings really affect your home life is really dependent on the particular municipality and responsibilities of the particular position you hold. Remember, many of the board members are also parents in many cases and may be motivated to keeps things on track. The time of day/evening for the meetings also plays a role. For example, do you live close enough that you can go home for lunch, or go home for dinner between the end of your work day and the meeting time? Do you get compensatory time so you can leave work early other days or take extra days off? Are you an exempt or non-exempt employment status, as that can affect comp time policies? Does your significant other work and if so, what is his/her schedule like?

Some things to remember in municipal work: you typically get a good holiday & vacation package--one that is typically far superior to private sector. This can have a significant positive effect on your home life as well. Also, depending on the type of private sector work you do as a planner, you can end up at just as many evening meetings each week plus travel overnight frequently.

Generally speaking, any position that is 8-5 at least most of the time will work well for family life. A couple of night meetings a week won't kill you, particularly if you get some flexibility on other days to take off or leave early. Couple that with the fact that the private sector often isn't much different as far as evening commitments and the typically good leave benefits that come with municipal employment, and I think you've got a professional position that is about as good as it gets these days as far as work-life balance goes. Plus, evening meetings usually occur on a regular schedule for a municipality, allowing you to plan accordingly and also avoiding a grumpy significant other because of a "surprise" meeting.

Last edited by Suburb Repairman; 27 Dec 2012 at 12:41 PM.

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There are few options outside of a public sector planning jobs that offer anything close to a work/family balance. Private sector time commitments are usually greater with fewer benefits/PTO, although the compensation is generally higher. However, there are some companies that are more likely to offer flex time BUT you might have to work longer hours on other days. Bottom line, attending public meetings (which often but not always meet at night) are part of the job responsibilities of most planners.

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Bottom line, attending public meetings (which often but not always meet at night) are part of the job responsibilities of most planners.

As long as it isn't 3x/week, it is doable, especially if you know well in advance to schedule ahead so the other parent can juggle. That's just the deal in this and some other public service professions. If you can't deal or figure out how to juggle, switch jobs.

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Anyone past their twenties (broad generalization, I know) is going to have a family and be in the same boat you're in. And entry level planners won't be going to every board/commission meeting, if at all.

I am the only planner in my office and I attend 6 planning (planning commission, ZBA, and historic district commission) meetings per month plus council if there is a planning-related agenda item (so sometimes up to 10 meetings per month). So yes, there are instances where you will have to attend A LOT of meetings.

Anyone past their twenties (broad generalization, I know) is going to have a family and be in the same boat you're in. And entry level planners won't be going to every board/commission meeting, if at all.

This. Yes, there are a number of different meetings that occur within a municipality. However, these different meetings may begin at different times and you may or may not be required to attend. Plus, these meetings are fairly consistent (ex: Planning Commission is the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm), so you can plan your schedule around it.

This profession is certainly not a 9-5 job, but the schedule isn't too odd.

Yes that was the only town in now 4 that did that but it doesn't hurt to ask

When I left WA I cashed in a lot of comp time - minimum 6 nights a month. Next place maybe .75x/month, no comp time. But much more planning happened in WA. Just to reiterate above observations: it depends. But you should know well enough in advance to schedule.

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Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.

I think it's like any job, you have to know what the schedule demands. I've worked for private companies where the schedule was regular untill a deadline hit, then it was overtime and weekends. I've worked as a planning tech and didn't attend any meetings. I've seen some places where only senior planners attend meetings. I've also worked places where I had to attend a meeting every week. I'm lucky to be working for a county where I only have 1 late meeting a month.

As far as family life, it's great for me. I know my weekends and holidays are free. I don't do overtime except meetings. The meetings and project deadlines are so regulated or regular that I can schedule vacation with no problems.
And my kids love when I go to meetings, they can talk my wife into cooking the things they love and I can't eat like steak and french fries (stupid diet). Also, most places are good about using some type of flex time so you can drop off the kids or pick them up. I think it just gets hard when you're a single parent, but then everything is harder not just work.

It's important to have an understanding spouse. My situation is also helped because my wife will occasionally have to work out of town for a few days at a time, and I'm the sole caregiver. For us, it all evens out.

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